Hair drier



June so, 1942. M, APP 2,288,227

HAIR DRIER Fi'led Feb. 10, 1940 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORZ MATTbREEYJune so, 1942. M, PP 2,288,227

' HAIR DRIER Filed Feb. 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 flMA'r ORNEYJune'30',-l942. M. CLAPP 2,288,227

HAIR DRIER Filed Feb. 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

26 @MATTORN Y' June 30, .1942. M. CLAPP 2,288,227

' HAIR DRIER Filed Feb 10. 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g BY 530% RNEY PatentedJune 30, 1942 HAIR, DRIER Melville Clapp, Baldwin, N. Y.', assignor toE. Frederics, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication February 10, 1940, SerialNo. 318,231

6' Claims.

The invention relates to hair driers, and more particularly to driersfor use in commercial hairdressing establishments.

Conventional types of hair driers in general use today have a motordriven fan mounted within a hood adapted to surround, or partiallysurround, the head of the user. The motor is mounted within, or directlyabove, the hood, with its axis arranged substantially vertical (withreference to the position assumed when the drier is swung into itsoperating position). When the motor is mounted in this manner, it islocated directly above the heating elements which are arranged withinthe hood. As a result of this arrangement the motor becomes very hot, sothat the bearing lubricant therein dries up and leads to objectionablevibration and bearing wear. Also, because of the vertical disposition ofthe motor shaft, the hot lubricant sometimes leaks out, running down theshaft and onto the commutator, thus giving rise to other operatingdifficulties and increased maintenance expense. The problem thuspresented is of a very serious character and has been given extendedstudy by leadin motor manufacturers; yet after years of experimentation,bearing wear and motor noise have not been satisfactorily eliminated.

I am aware that it has been proposed to mount the motor separately fromthe drier hood, connecting the motor shaft to a fan located within thehood through the medium of a flexible cable. This construction avoidsoverheating of the motor, but is undesirable for other reasons, beingcomplicated and expensive to fabricate, and lacking the desiredcompactness, Moreover, the cable drive is likely to become noisy andgive trouble due to wear, or for other reasons. It also has beenproposed to arrange both the motor and fan with their axes in ahorizontal plane. This construction is not suitable for averticallyarranged drying hood, however, and does not solve the motorproblem presented by this type of hood. Accordingly, it" has been anobject of my invention to provide a drier of the vertical type which hasa motor and fan mounted in direct association with the hood, yet whichavoids the dificulties discussed hereinabove.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved motormounting and fan driving connection which decreases noise, vibration,and bearing wear, while at the same time giving greater flexibility infan operation.

Another object is to provide an improved drier assembly in which themotor and fan drive are control between the operating switch for theheating elements and the driving connection to the fan.

Another object is to provide a drier which is ,insulated against motornoise, and in which soundproofing insulationalso assists in preventingoverheating of the motor bearings.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a drier illustrating mynovel motor mounting and fan driving mechanism together with otherfeatures to be described.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the driershown in Fig. 1, illustratingthe arrangement and operation of the vanesfor controlling the recirculation of the air.

Fig; 3 is an enlargedface view of the customer heat controlswitch.

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken on the lines4-4and-55, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational viewof the interlocking mechanism foroperating the main heat control switch and the driving connectionbetween the motor and fan, This view is taken as indicated at 6-6 inFig. 1'.

Fig. '7 is a detail view of the toggle lever for operating the mechanismof-Fig. 6.

Fig: 8 is'a rearelevational view of the mechanismshown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the drive shaft for the fan, illustrating themeans for producing axial movement thereof to disengage the drivingconnection from the motor.

Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating theelectrical connections between the motor, main heat control switch,customer heat control switch, and the several heating' elements, foreach position of the customer heat control switch.

Referring to Fig. l, the preferred embodiment illustratedconsists, inits general arrangement, of a drying hood I having associated therewitha motor housing 2 and a supporting or mounting brac-ket3. Through themounting bracket 3 the hood may be pivotally supported on a frame orstandard 4, as by means of a bolt 5. In Fig. l the hood is shown inoperating position in which it is tilted forward so that-its axisisnearly vertical, or so that-it is inclined slightly and is-at theproper angle to surround the head of the cusso arranged as to makepossible an interlocking tomer. When the hood is in this position, itWill extension of the inner wall of the hood, to which are attachedsupports I2 for the heater element or elements I3. The supports I2 alsoserve as spacers between the inner shell and the fan shield I4.Additional supporting and spacing means for the fan shield I4 areprovided by the annular member I5 which is connected to the inner shell8 by means of radial spokes I6 which are spaced so as to permitcirculation of air between the shell 8 and shield I4. Shield I4 isprovided with a central opening or openings, and may have a screen I! toguard against contact with the blades of the fan. The particularconstruction and arrangement of the fan shield, heater elements andassociated structure does not form a part of the present invention andsince such constructions are well known in the art, it will beunnecessary to describe in further detail the form which has beenselected merely for the purpose of illustration.

An inwardly projecting flange I8 which may be formed integrally with theouter shell I, or as a part of a member I8 secured thereto, joins theouter shell to the housing II or to the upper part of the inner shell.The space defined by the outer and inner shells I and 8, rim 9, andmember I8, is filled with a suitable sound deadening and heat insulatingmaterial I9. This material, in conjunction with the foraminous innershell 8, provides a sound deadening construction which assists ineliminating noise created by the fan and fan driving means. It alsoserves another function which Will be referred to hereinafter.

The fan housing I I is provided with a cover or complementary housingmember 2|] extending across the top thereof and secured thereto in anyconvenient manner. The member is provided with a central opening 2|through which the fan shaft projects, and which serves as the air intakeof the fan housing. The driving and control mechanism is mounted abovethe fan housing and is enclosed within an upper shell 22, the lower edgeof which engages the lower hood assembly. As shown, the shell 22 ismounted on the member I8 of the lower hood assembly.

The motor, fan, transmission and lower hood assembly are all carried bya frame 23 which is secured to the supporting bracket 3 through its base24. The upper shell 22 of the hood is clamped between the base 24 ofthis frame and a lug 25 formed on the bracket 3, thus providing furthersupport for the hood. The frame 23 and bracket 3 are secured together inany convenient manner, as by means of bolts or machine screws passingthrough the lug 25 of the bracket 3 and the shell 22 into the base 24 ofthe frame. The lower hood assembly is secured to the frame 23 through aresilient mounting in order to dampen vibration which might otherwise betransmitted to the hood from the fan and motor mechanism. For thispurpose I have found it advantageous to employ resilient washers 26 ofrubber or the like which are disposed at each side of the top 20 of thefan housing. Bolts or screws 21 pass through housing 2.

these resilient washers 26 securing the hood assembly to the frame 23.

The frame 23 conveniently may be made of trapezoidal form providing anupper portion 28 which serves as a bearing for the fan shaft 29, aconnecting portion 30 which serves as a mounting for the main switch andtransmission control mechanism, and a second connecting portion 3| onwhich the motor 6 is mounted, as by means of stud bolts 32. The uppershell 22 of the hood is apertured to receive the motor 6 and the motor Aresilient gasket 33 preferably is interposed between the motor housing 2and shell 22. In the construction shown the gasket 33 assumes the formof a covering strip for the edge of the opening in the shell 22.

The main part 34 of the frame 23 is shown best in Fig. 4. It is ofannular form with intersecting connecting ribs 35 providing openings 36through which the air is drawn by the fan. The ribs 35 join at thecenter to provide a boss-31 which constitutes a second bearing for thefan shaft 29. A suitable fan 38 is keyed to the shaft 29 where thelatter projects within the main part of the hood. In the embodimentillustrated, this fan comprises blades 39 acting as centrifugalimpellers to drawing air in through openings 40 of the motor housing 2,this air passing through and around the motor 6 to cool it, thencethrough the openings 36 and 2| to be discharged by the fan around theoutside of the shield I4. This air then passes over the heating elementsI3 along with air which is being recirculated by the blades 4| of thefan. These blades draw air upwardly through the screen I! and dischargeit around the outside of the shield I4 where it passes over the heatingelement I3. The recirculated air along with the fresh airwhich is drawnthrough the motor housing, after passing over the heating elements I3,is then blown into the drying chamber.

V A friction drive cone 42 is affixed to the shaft 29 as by means of theset-screw 43, this cone being driven by a friction wheel 44 secured tothe shaft of the motor 6. The friction surface of the Wheel 44preferably consists of a rubber element 45 having a conical surface forengagement with the surface of the friction cone 42.

. The shaft 29 is mounted so as to be shiftable longitudinally to throwthe friction elements 42 and 45 into and out of engagement. For thispurpose, I have provided a collar 46 secured to the shaft 29, and meansengaging the collar to lift the shaft against the action of acompression spring 41. The spring 41 surrounds the shaft 29, bearing atone end against the upper portion 28 of the frame and at the other endagainst a collar 48 on the shaft. This spring normally holds thefriction cone 42 against the drive wheel 44. Disengagement of thefriction drive is accomplished by a handle or knob 49 connected to anoperating rod or shaft 50 passing through the shell 22 and having abearing in a boss 5| on the side member 30 of the frame 23. A pin 52 ismounted on the end of the shaft 50 in a position which is eccentric withrespect to the axis of this shaft. This eccentric pin engages the underside of the collar 46 and upon rotation of the shaft 50 raises the shaft29 against the action of the spring 41 into the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 9 to disengage the friction drive; or, alternatively,permits the shaft 29 to be lowered under the action'of the spring 4'!into the position shown indot-dash lines at a in-Fig. 9 to re-engage thefriction drive.

A fibre collar 53 preferably is mounted underneath the collar 45. Thehandle 49, in addition to controlling the transmission through thefriction drive elements, is used to operate the main heat control switch54 (Figs. 1 and 6) This switch may be of the conventional form, operatedby a toggle 55, and is mounted on portion 30 of the frame as by means ofa bracket 65. The toggle 55 is engaged alternately by the furcations 55of an arm 51 affixed to the shaft 55, as by means of a collar 58.

In order to avoid placing undue load on the switch spring which is usedto force the toggle 55 into its limiting positions, an auxiliary toggleis provided. This auxiliary toggle comprises an arm 59 pivotally mountedin the section 30 of the frame as by means of a lateral extension 65extending through a boss 6| therein, and an arm 62 (Figs. 1 and. 8)affixed to the shaft The arms 59 and 62 of this toggle are slidablyconnected together by means of an angle bracket 63 which may be securedto the arm 62 either rigidly or pivotally, and which has an aperturethrough which the arm 59 extends. A compression spring 64 surrounds thearm 59, engaging projections 65 thereon and bearing at the otherendagainst the bracket 63. By reason of the spacing of the furcations 55 ofthe arm 51, the toggle 55 is not immediately engaged by these furcationsupon operation of the handle 49, this engagement occurring only afterthe arms 55 and 52 of the auxiliary toggle are brought nearly intoalignment. When these arms have been brought past dead center, thespring 64 then acts to move them into their limiting position in theother direction (as indicated by the dot-dash lines in Fig. 8). At thesame time the toggle 55 is brought past its dead center and snaps intoits other limiting position freely and without being required to supportany of the load imposed by lifting the shaft 29 against the action ofthe spring 47. In this way the normal toggle action of the switch 54 isnot interfered with, and there is no danger of it becoming stuck in anintermediate or dead. center position.

Control of recirculation of the air within the drier hood is effected bymeans of vanes arranged adjacent the lower end thereof. Some of thesevanes preferably are adjustable and others stationary. In theconstruction illustrated, I have provided concentric stationary vanes51, 58, 69, and adjustable vanes ill, H. The stationary vanes mayconveniently be supported from the ring [5 by means of bolts 12. SpacersT3 in the form of sleeves surrounding the bolts 12 are disposed betweenthe vanes 51, 68 and B9 and also between the vane 61 and ring I5. Thevane 69 is separated slightly from the inner shell 8 of the hood; thevane 68 is spaced a slightly reater distance from the shell v8; and thevane 59 is spaced a still greater distance from the shell 8. Thisprovides a stepped arrangement so that each vane will deflect part ofthe air discharged downwardly between the shell 8 and shield 14. Themovable vanes and H are provided with trunnions or supporting shafts l4,having bearings in the inner shell 8 of the hood. The shaft 15 alsoextends through the outer shell I of the hood, and an operating handle'16 is attached thereto to control the position of the vanes. The vanes10 and H are kept in parallelism by means of a link 71 which has aneyelet at either end engaging apertures 18 formed in the edges of thesevanes. By adjusting the position of the handle 16, the vanes can beinclined into the positions shown in dot-dash lines at b and c in Fig. 2or in other desired positions in order to direct the air toward thecenter of the hood or downwardly against the neck of the customer. Vane10 is spaced a greater distance from the inner shell 8 of the hood thanis the vane H, so that each vane will deflect a portion of the air.

For convenience in making the necessary electrical connections betweenthe motor, main heat control switch, customer heat control switch andheater elements, there may be provided an insulating panel 19 (Figs. 1and 4). This panel may conveniently be supported by means of clipssecured to the main portion 34 of the supporting frame 23, as by meansof the bolts 2! previouslyreferred to. A series of binding posts 8| arearranged on the panel '79 (see Fig. 4 and Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive). Thedrier preferably is equipped with a customer heat control knob'82 whichis arranged on an extension cord to be within easy reach of thecustomer. This knob consists of a four-position switch indicateddiagrammatically in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, by means of which thecustomer can control the degree of heat. In practice, the heatingelements l3 consist of a spirally wound resistance coil having electricconnections thereto at intervals so that various parts of the coil canbe heated as desired. For the purpose of illustration, however, theheating element may be regarded as made up of three separate electricresistance coils is. In Fig. 10, the power source is indicateddiagrammatically at 83, the motor at 6, and the main i switch at 54. Theconstruction of the customer heat control switch 82 does not form apart, of the present invention, but it is illustrated diagrammaticallyin order to show one way in which the electrical connections can bemade, and to indicate the electric connections between the main controlswitch 54 and the customer control switch. In this connection it will beremembered that the switch 54 is operated by the hand control 49 whichalso controls the engagement between the friction driving. elements.

It will be observed that in accordance with my invention the motor, inaddition to being arranged horizontally, is so disposed as to be quiteeffectively insulated from the heating elements.

Thus the insulation i9 between the shells l and 8 and also between thefan housing ii and flange l8 serves a dual function, namely, asconstituting a part of the sound-deadening construction and also as heatinsulation. If desired, similar insulating material may be provided at84 around the inside of the upper shell 22.

Another advantage of my motor and drive arrangement is that it permitsadjustment of the fan speed by changing the relative positions of thefriction drive elements 42 and 44 on their respective shafts 29 and 85.This construction also permits the use of motor speeds which are lowerthan the R. P. M. of the fan, thus further decreasing the likelihood oftroubles developing in the bearings of the motor. In this connection myinvention results in improved motor bearing conditions from threestandpoints, viz., horizontal disposition of the motor axis, arrangementof the motor in a position which allows it to be effectively heatinsulated, and the possibility of employing lower motor speeds for agiven fan speed. My invention also makes possible the provision of theinterlocking control between the operating switch for the heatingelements and the driving connection to the fan. With this interlockingcontrol the fan cannot be stopped without separating the frictionelements 42 and 45. Thus when the drier is not in use it is insured thatthe pressure between these elements produced by the spring 48 will berelieved. This, in turn, prevents the formation of a depression in therubber element 45 as would otherwise be occasioned if the drier were tobe allowed to remain out of operation for any length of time with thecone 42 bearing down into the rubber element 45. Such a depression wouldinterfere with proper operation of the friction drive when the drier isput back into use. This disadvantage is completely overcome by theinterlocking control I have disclosed herein.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and I have no intention of excludingsuch equivalents of the invention set forth, or of portions thereof, asfall within the purview of the claims.

I claim:

1. A hair drier comprising a hood, a fan within the hood having itsshaft extending lengthwise thereof, an air inlet at the upper end of thehood, a motor mounted at one side of the hood with its shaft extendingat an angle to the fan shaft, a friction driving member mounted on thefan shaft, a, complementary friction driving member mounted on the motorshaft for engagement with the first-named driving member, a, heatingelement within the hood and a heat control switch therefor, and meansfor throwing one of said friction driving members into and out ofengagement with the other, said means comprising a switch arm arrangedto actuate said heat control switch simultaneously with engagement anddisengagement of the driving elements.

2. In combination, a hair drier hood, a plurality of bafiies disposedtransversely of the hood adjacent the inner wall of the hood, acentrifugal fan for circulating air downwardly over the bafiies, thebaffles being arranged progressively closer to said inner wall in thedirection of the open end of the hood so that each baffle is arranged todeflect part of the air toward the center of the hood for recirculation.

3. In combination, a hair drier hood, a series of fixed and adjustablebafiies arranged transversely of the hood adjacent the inner wall of thehood, a fan for circulating air downwardly over the baflies, saidbaffles bein spaced progressively closer to said inner walls in thedirection of the open end of the hood.

4. A hair drier comprising a hood, a fan within the hood having itsshaft extending lengthwise thereof, a motor mounted at one side of thehood with its shaft extending at an angle to the fan shaft, a frictiondriving member mounted on the fan shaft, a complementary frictiondriving member mounted on the motor shaft for engagement with thefirst-named driving member, a, heating element within the hood and aheat control switch therefor, an operating rod having an arm arranged toactuate the heat control switch, and a member eccentrically mounted onsaid operating rod for lifting the first-named driving member out ofengagement with the second driving member.

5. A hair drier comprising a hood, a fan within the hood having itsshaft extending lengthwise thereof, a motor mounted at one side of thehood with its shaft extending at an angle to the fan shaft, a frictiondriving member mounted on the fan shaft, a complementary frictiondriving member mounted on the motor shaft for engagement with thefirst-named driving member, a heating element within the hood and a heatcontrol switch therefor, an operating rod having an arm arranged toactuate the heat control switch, a member eccentrically mounted on saidoperating rod for lifting the first-named drivin member out ofengagement with the second driving member, and a spring toggle arrangedto urge the operating rod into either of two limiting positions onopposite sides of the dead center position of said toggle.

6. A hair drier comprising a hood, a fan within the hood having itsshaft extending lengthwise thereof, an air inlet at the upper end of thehood, a motor mounted at one side of the hood with its shaft extendingat an angle to the fan shaft, a friction driving member mounted on thefan shaft, a complementary friction driving member mounted on the motorshaft for engagement with the first-named driving member, a heatingelement within the hood and a heat control switch therefor, andinterlocking control means between said switch and said friction drivingmembers, said interlocking control means comprising an operating rodhaving an arm movable to on and off positions in accordance with closedand open positions of the switch respectively, and a membereccentrically mounted on said operating rod for regulating the relativepositions of said friction driving members so that they will bemaintained in driving engagement only when the switch is closed.

MELVILLE CLAPP.

